Derrick Mason

Ravens receiver Torrey Smith would never talk about a new contract during the season, but the postseason is money time for NFL players. If you want fame, play well in the playoffs. If you want icon status, turn in impressive numbers throughout your career in the postseason. If you want a new, lucrative contract, come up big in what is called "the second season." All he has to do is look at teammate Joe Flacco's 2012 postseason performance and the $20 million per year contract that he received. It's Smith's time to come up big. "I wanted to make it to the playoffs regardless," said Smith, who becomes an unrestricted free agent when this season ends....

Related "Derrick Mason" Articles

There has been a conversation and the groundwork is being laid to reduce the number of plays for veteran receiver Steve Smith during the 2015 season, but it may never happen.
The Ravens have to find and develop a pool of receivers to relieve Smith, a...

There used to be a time when NFL minicamps meant something. Now, with all the offseason team activity camps and weight-training sessions, it's hard to put a lot of stock in observations.
But if a problem continues to arise or there is a pattern, then...

The question was about Joe Flacco and his ability to be productive and lead the Ravens to the playoffs nearly every season despite annual and widespread change on the offensive side of the ball.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh used it as an opportunity...

It was 10 years ago when wide receiver Mark Clayton arrived in Baltimore and embraced the expectations that came with being a first-round NFL draft pick.
Over five seasons, Clayton averaged 47 catches and 623 yards and caught 12 touchdown passes. He...

When Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu announced his retirement, few people were happier than Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. With Ravens safety Ed Reed not playing last season and Polamalu headed to the sidelines, Lewis' life has become a...

Whenever it comes to selecting wide receivers in the NFL draft, the Ravens consistently have dropped the ball.
So there's some apprehension over the Ravens having the No. 26 pick in the first round. They need a receiver — not just anyone, but a...

Torrey Smith readily acknowledges it now. He had designs on setting all of the Ravens' receiving records.
He wanted to spend his entire career with the team and win multiple Super Bowls. When it was all said and done, he yearned to see his name displayed...

Regardless of local ties or community interests, the Ravens and wide receiver Torrey Smith made good business decisions over the weekend.
Even though it won't be official until late Tuesday afternoon, Smith is expected to leave the Ravens and play for...

Ravens receiver Torrey Smith would never talk about a new contract during the season, but the postseason is money time for NFL players.
If you want fame, play well in the playoffs. If you want icon status, turn in impressive numbers throughout your...

The Ravens and the NFL had a chance for a do over, and they got it right this time.
The Ravens terminated the contract of star running back Ray Rice on Monday afternoon, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely, hours after TMZ...

Torrey Smith appeared carefree and relaxed as he shrugged his shoulders each time his contract status was broached last week.
The former Maryland wide receiver's expressions and body language revealed no signs of stress. He's a man assured of his future....

Former Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason spoke to Ray Rice shortly after the running back’s arrest in February and found his old teammate to be reflective and remorseful. Mason came away believing Rice would rebound and...

Running back Ray Rice was suspended Thursday for two games without pay for violating the National Football League's personal-conduct policy, sparking criticism that the penalty was too lenient but also allowing the Ravens to move on from a tumultuous...

The Internet — that living, breathing mob of opinion that builds on itself and creates consensus in a matter of moments — was true to form Thursday morning, and didn't leave much nuance in relation to Ravens running back Ray Rice's two-game...

Earlier this offseason, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh came to the same conclusion while mulling what type of wide receiver the team needed to help the offense get back on track.
At the time, they had no way of...

The first year that the New England Patriots traded for Randy Moss, the veteran wide receiver displayed elite form.
The mercurial receiver caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns in that 2007 season in New England after being acquired from the...

Wearing an “I Love Baltimore” hat, wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones admitted that he took less money to re-sign with the Ravens and return to a place that he called “home.”
The Ravens can only hope free agent wide receiver Steve Smith...

Each week, Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer questions from readers about the Ravens. You can submit questions during every game to sports@baltimoresun.com.
Here are this week's questions and answers:
Is there any reason you can see why...

This time a year ago, Joe Flacco was still viewed as a quarterback who couldn't get his team to the Super Bowl. He was still playing for a big contract after betting on himself by declining the Ravens' initial offers.
He was still waiting for the...

Torrey Smith has heard it before. About three months after the wide receiver was drafted, the Ravens released three popular and productive offensive players, and Smith remembers the talk that the team was headed for some struggles.
"They had cut...